Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison Under Project EJECT for Illegally Possessing Firearm and Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Brian McIver, 49, of Hattiesburg, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett to 96 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Special Agent in Charge Michelle A. Sutphin with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.  McIver was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.

On April 29, 2019, during a traffic stop on the campus of Forrest General Hospital, McIver was found in possession of a firearm as well as methamphetamine.  The methamphetamine was co-located with a scale. McIver was previously convicted of felonious possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) in Forrest County in 2007. 

McIver was indicted on September 25, 2019. He pled guilty before Judge Starrett on December 17, 2019. 

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian. EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for “Empower Justice Expel Crime Together.” PSN is bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Forrest General Hospital Department of Public Safety Campus Police investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew W. Eichner.